Body and Soul

Jason I'm on a big movie kick lately. Yesterday's viewing of Zorba the Greek inspired me to write about Fight Club. The prompt 'Body and Soul' sends my mind to V For Vendetta, another of my favorite (and often cited) films. Nearing the end of the film, the character V answers "[Why won't you die?]...Because ideas are bulletproof." The notion that the body is a vehicle for the soul, for an idea, is repeated and echoed throughout the film.

I think there is something to that. We all know what it's like to be consumed with an idea, or a project, or a goal, so much that it seems to drive our body to do more than it should. In class, Dr. Ihssen made the comparison to professional athletes; they make a living exploiting their own bodies. We hear a lot about the 'soul of an athlete' or 'soul of a competitor'. Things like 'he's got a lot of heart' or 'he's got guts.' We seem to subconsciously accept that something in us can drive our bodies to do more than they are mechanically expected to.

Years ago, I played tennis competitively. There are moments where you want to just stop because the court is so hot and you've been at it for hours, but something in you just keeps your legs moving, keeps your head up and your eyes open. Sometimes, you just have to gut out a win over the other guy; maybe he's bigger than me, maybe he's even better than me, but if I can survive longer, keep the abuse to my body on the sideline of my mind, I can beat him. In moments like that, you get a clear sense of the separation between body and soul; your body wants to quit, but your soul won't let you.